Alarm system



Sept' 19, 1950 R. L. HUGHES 2,522,615

ALARM SYSTEM Filed April 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l *A2-r @Pff/prf@/BaeaL/s ,warn r//feM/vz f/'Pf www JMW/vrs.

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Sept' 19, 1950 R. l.. HUGHES 2,522,615

ALARM SYSTEM Filed April 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .f7-@n 4a Zgc 4a' I nven/or 720i/v Zjfyew www* me Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES.PATENT OFFICE 2 .Claimsi 1 V.

This inventionirelates to automatic' valarmsys#y tems informing police:stationsfre departments;` orfother .private or public agencieskeepingf'watch over the premisesofa shop or otherl establishment thatkalarming conditions have f developed 'and it has particular .reference`to systems lof 'this type ini-Which messagesfareisentgby WleESS trans*missioni It is the general' object of .th .inventionfto'4 im-l provealarm systems of the above mentioned 'type in'such fa-Way ithat'theyfare' able 'tot work satis' factorilyand 'reliably' lin.conjunctionfwithl the existing 'facilities fof Vpolice stations. firedepart= ments` and other agenciesl Without vdisturbing* otherinstallations? and without requiring the s. presence or installation ofa special network while on r :the tether hand; a reasonable" securityyexists i that thecall will .be received.`

According "to the invention. the message l'is a spoken tmessage which.is delivered repeatedly during 'agivenperiod and which'is fsentfout by'vradio bymeansA of "a transmittertwhich. is' able tof/cover acertainzlimitedr areafwhich` includes severaly stations; but not too-'many'stationsf equippedv vfor ythe receptiony `and supervision;

The transmitter is set in'towoperationJbylocal` alarmcircuitsfandthetoperationi of said :alarm circuitsfalso selects one of asere'siof automatic endless; records which: are operated r`when :thealarm.:A signal is :giveni'and which furnish* the modulation"'fo'r thetransmitter `so thatthe re'- ceived waves will indicate by means ofarspoken". message the vlnaturerof .the 'di'sturbance1fand itslocation.:

Theinvention also includesy means for stopping benetransmitted 1 andincludesmeans' 'for auto maticallyresetting the entire alarm system for"aflat'eroperation:

Theinvention further comprises-'means 'for sending a spoken messageWhich/are controlled by the operation of 'they transmitter itself.

The invention further *comprises* meansL` for` timing the operation of'the'tra'nsmitter 'and of the record "producing the talking in such'awaythat they are 'operated simultaneously."

Further features of the invention and "furthei` objects to be attained`willi'be idescribedin the@ following specification.

It :islfto' be f understood `v`that' :the invention 1re-1 sides mainlyin the alarm systemgas described* and shownl in the specic'ati'oni'anddrawings,4 and as claimed the descriptionlof one fmodiiicationof thissystem isff-not-fintendedf tofbe #limitative but-l' 55 the-:recordandthe operationvof the transmitter after a sufficient 'numberoflalarm"signals have to showiby way of example how thisl systemican becarried into effect. Many changes especially with'regard to specicdetails mentioned may,"

therefore,' be made without departing from the essence of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1'is a diagram of the connection of an' installation producingtwodiiierent types of` Figures 2 and Bare' .diagrams showing differentmethods for producing the talking currents from an endless record, whichmay 13e-employed in the alarmfsystem according tothe invention.`

Figurel is a diagrammatic view of one typey of automatic switch thatmay`be employed iniA thelocal alarm circuits.4

Figures 4a'to 4c illlustrate different positions ofthe switch.r

Figureis aitop View on the endless steel wire arrangement on an enlargedscale.

Figure 6 is ak diagrammatic View of a further modification.

According to the modification shown in the diagram (Figure 1) theinstallation comprises two diie'rent types `ofalarm systems 'eachprovided Withits "ownendless record for a spoken message.l

One of 'these messages' may begior example,-a"-

message' tothe police department lto be delivered When'the .burglaryalarm is loperated and the c second :message may be one for the firedepartment in the event that lone of theswitches'of the re alarm circuitis operated. It is, however; to be understoodthat this represents merelyan example foraltypical case and that the number of messages among whichthe correct message has to be selected may belarger.

The` alarmis given as usual by meansof a number of .swit'ches3,N I3 or33 connected in parallel.

In the example shown (Figure 1) the' (automatic) burglar-alarm switchesI3 are controlled by. a key-v l operatedswitch 32'which, vwhen operated,permits` said switches I3 tol-be energized from 'outside of l thepremiseswhile rthe pushLbutton type of emer gency policealarmiswitches 3and also the therfinally operated nre alarm control switches 337imayI-'be energizedff-'at alltimes whether the key switch isoperated'orVI not.' The switches I3 in this diagram (Figure 1) are'automatic're-opem ingswitchesfswhich; upon beingoperatedvby ay "burglaropening-a door or windowor some other means, close their contacts onlymomentarily and theniremain inanropen position until again operated-bythe above described means.

The closing of onefof the switches 3, I3 or33 i f'clo'sesthea1arm-'circuit, as well'knowni-'to-Which the group of switches belongs.Assuming, for instance, that the switches I3 belong to a, group formingpart of the burglary alarm, then each of them will close the alarmcircuit I (Figure l) which includes the alarm relay I2 operating anumber of relay arms closing local circuits. Similarly the thermalswitches 33 when operated Will close the circuit |00 of relay IUI,operating a number of local circuits. These local circuits control atransmitter 22 and a motor 42 which drives the endless speech recordcarrier apparatus 49 producing a talking current. The local circuitsalso include the coils 5D, 5| of the magnetic heads of a magneticrecorder in which the currents modulating the carrier wave of the radiotransmitter are induced. They further include switch arms |39, |30@ andthe contacts 49, 49a which provide means for stopping the operation ofthe entire alarm system, the holding circuits for the relays I2, |0|themselves, the lament circuit tubes 29, arranged in the output circuitof the transmitter and the grid circuit for the grid of tube 29 which isconnected with a point of the transmitter supplying the desired gridbias for the operation of said tube.

The transmitter 22 may be of any well known type. In this specialexample the transmitter is supposed to operate only with one frequency.However, the transmitter is preferably adjustable to a number ofdifferent frequencies, if necessary. The transmitter should beadjustable to the broadcast wave length and moreover to the wave lengthsused by police and fire departments communication systems, the latterbeing as-a rule short-wave communications systems,

The transmitter may be either battery operated or operated by connectionwith a source of electric power by means of the wall plug 30 and of thecontacts 23 and it is set into operation by means of the contacts 24which control the supply current through the relay arm |1 of the alarmrelay I2. A series of contact terminals 26, 21 connects the transmitterwith the circuits providing the talking currents.

A relay 23 is inserted in the place circuit of the electronic tube 29.The voltage for this circuit is supplied by the high-voltage platecurrent supply of the transmitter itself and is connected to the relay28 and the electronic tube 29 through the contact terminals 36 of thetransmitter 22. The relay contact arm 3| of the relay 28 controls thecurrent supply to the motor 42.

The lament circuit of the electronic tube 29 is controlled by thecontact arms I8, ||8 of the relays I2, and IBI respectively,

The apparatus 46 furnishing the talking currents consists of a magneticrecord carrier using endless magnetized wires 4|, 4|a, running over aseries of grooved disks 45, the number of which is so kchosen that theycan accommodate the required wire length (Figure 5). Since themagnetized recording wires are endless the recorded message may berepeated over and over again for the desired number of times without anyadjustments or any re-setting.

The disks 45 are driven by a pulley 43 which is itself driven by meansof appropriately chosen gear wheels 44 by a motor 42. The coils 50, 5|of the magnetic head of the recorder are arranged near the wires inwhich the talking currents are induced.

The pulley drives a shaft 39 carrying a worm 46 which meshes with a wormwheel 41 carrying either a cam disk or a pin 48 acting on a pivotedswitch actuating arm |24. The arm |24 is under the tension of a spring|25 which draws it against a rest |26,

Against the switch actuating arm |24 which may be provided with a platea push rod |21 bears which is connected with the two pivoted switch arms|30, |30a drawn towards the switch actuating arm by a spring |28. Theswitch arms |30, |30a cooperate with contacts 49 and 46a respectively.The switch arms |30 and |3911 and contacts 49, 49a are so arranged thata slight movement of the arms will not separate them from the contacts,such separation being only the result of a movement of the arms over anappreciable distance.

When the pin 48 during revolution of the Worm wheel is pushed againstthe switch actuating arm |24, the latter is therefore lifted from itsrest |26 while the push rod |21 still rests on the push plate of thespring actuating arm for some time and the spring |28 keeps these twomembers in contact. This movement is however so slight that the contactarms |30 and |3011 remain in contact with the contacts 49, 49a. When thepin 48 is moved further towards the switch actuating arm |24 the switchactuating arm moves away from its rest |26 and when the pin reaches theend of the switch actuating arm |24 the latter snaps back and rst meetsthe push rod |21 exercising a kind of hammer like action. Thereby thetwo contact arms |30, |3|la are driven out of engagement with contacts49, 49a. This opens the circuits of said contacts momentarily. They donot remain open, however, but are soon closed again by the action ofspring |28. The worm gear arrangement is so adjusted that the worm wheel4'| will complete one revolution by the time the recorded message on theendless wire has been broadcast for the desired number ci times.

It will be noted that there are as many wire systems 4|, 4Ia as thereare different kinds of spoken messages to be sent over the transmitter.The connection of each system with the transmitter is controlled by thealarm circuits Ill, |09, each circuit connecting one of the coils 5U, 5|with the transmitter and thus selecting the special message to betransmitted.

It is to be understood, however, that the magnetic speech recordingsystem (Poulsen system) is only an example and that other systems may beemployed. Figures 2 and 3 show other methods which may be used. Figure 2shows an endless strip or band 4Ic covered with a suitable surface laveror consisting of a suitable plastic material into which a record hasbeen impressed by means of the usual cutter. The arrangement isotherwise the same which has been described with reference to Figure l.The talking currents in this case are produced in the electric pick up60 and may be amplied in the well known type of amplier. Wires 62 and 63are in this case connected over the relay contact with one of thecontact pairs 26 or 21 of the transmitter. The rollers 45 over which theband is running are driven by means of a pulley 43 and by means of gearwheels 44 by a motor 42.

A similar arrangement is shown in Figure 3 in which an endless band 4|bis covered by an emulsion rendered more or less opaque, by exposure tolight in a photographic process or by printing or by using a triangularcutter penetrating more or less deeply into an opaque layer of varyingthickness. The arrangement comprises a lamp 94 sending light rays to aphotoelectric cell 96 arranged in a local circuit which may contain anamplifier. y The leads 62, 63 lead- 5f: ing :from the .amplifier arethenconnectedfin AtheA same-way in'which the coil,'50-or 5I is connectedwith the contact. terminals 2Iiror 2'Iof the trans-f mitter 22.'

An yexamplewof` the :type of switchy that maybe used.v as anf'automaticburglar alarmfswitch I3'is shownfdiagrammatically in Figures 4, 4A, 4Band 4C. As shown in these gures when the windowy (ondoor, etc.) I `isopened by an unauthorized person entering the premises the pin 2 'on thedoor or window pushes the arm 3a and shaft 4 inthe direction shown bythearrow. until thearm slips oi'ithepinl. At this moment the springv 5pullsshaft 4`backl against the lstop 5.' When the f shaft ystrikes thestop Gth'e momentum` causes-v th'e weighted contact8ton`the'fiexibleshaft' I to continue Amoving so that'it makes momentary contact withthecontact 9 whichis also on .a flexible Lshaft Illa. This lmomentaryvcontact .of the switch-contacts t` and 9k is -suiicient tofenergize thealarmrelay I2Iin Figure 1 andrstarts the operati-onor the entirealarmsystem. After. the momentary contact has. ybeen*` made'the twoswitch contacts 8 and 9- Figure 44) again resume their normal openposition. The hinged arm 3a is counterbalanced so that it will alwaysresume its normal position shown inli'ig ure 4. This isprovidedbecausewhen vthewin-` dowfl is closed therpin 2.causes the yarm3ato tip downward but 'it' passesr withoutamoving the shaft l4-ory theswitchI contacts hand 9, andthe counter weights return the arm '3a`to'normal.

positionwhenvreleased by the pin moving down,"

ward.' Figure fishows only one 'creci/eral. types of automaticre-opening switches. that may rhe used inthe alarm Acircuit at,3,1lv'iigure l.l

The line .terminal contacts `25 theitransmitter-. 22 are low voltagelcontacts energized at all times during whichthe transmitterfisyconnected,y tothe power lsupply throughcontacts 523 andfwall plugSilery througlrabattery connection if the; transmitter is .battery,operated. Theser contacts- 25 -provide .the electric current whichenergizes the alarm switches 3,13, .33,the alarm'relay'coilsy` I2,rIOI,the electric motor -42 yand the lament of tube 29.,v

The temperature controlled lire alarm switches 33 shown in/Figureil :aresimilarin .operationtok the burglar alarm switchesI3. It willfhetnotedthat rthe use .of automaticre-opening.switches I3` and-33 and the vuseof automatic 1re-:closing: switches. suchtzasthose described y,(13%ISQa) cooperating with contacts 49 and 49a (Figure ,ll make this alarmsystemv entirely automatic f in operation; After each; operation;thealarmfsystem 4is again. ready tosendfanother alarm as thealarincircuit'isagain,open. Fiorinstancaif a burglar attempts to enterthe premises an alarm. is ygiven leven if the 4attempt is unsuccessful.If a second vattempt is made after some time, the alarm is repeated.v Itshould be noted herethat thefsw'itches 13,; and ,33 are to befconsideredas annexamplev of one type thatmight zbe used.4 Their construction andvarrangement does 1 not, formfpart of this invention.

Theyoperation of the arrangement is as. ltoliows:

Assuming that the relay kcircuit AIt'belongs tov theburglary-.alarmcircuit, ,while rthel circuit I 00.1. belongs-to the firealarm circuit; then,l it wilLbe,l cleargthat if; one of; theyswitches-I3 is closed by i anA `:unauthorized persony entering the4premises while the keyoperatedswitchfSZ.has been closed. or when one/of the switches 3 is;closed'momenfV tarily by the owner of;theypropertyJbeingliurcfy tected. theicircuit-oi relay :I2willzbe--closed :run-

nali ci; contacts 25.v Relay1 I2fis energizedwand I8 and' ISL'.r

operatesth'e Arelay :arms :f I4 ,'f I6, i4 I l; Arm I 6 "'.lcloses fagholding Hcircuitgfrom source 25,

over-182:1,` over .contact 20 through. lead. 19,4 switch i arm. I 30,contact` i 49 'f andi conductor "maf which" holdingV circuitis.paralleltofthefleadIZ and to the switchesj- I3.. A rea-.openingof."thegswitch I311or 3 which'zhas :been iclosedzor :evenv destruction'.of. VYthe same; therefredoes notft'aieot the operationv of.: theAalarmrsystem; Operation-'or the arm I 4fopensthe :circuit :of-theswitches .3,1I 3 and Icauses rthefcontrol of the :relay holding circuitto.'f'bealef=t 'withfswitch acontactnarm 13m-and Contact49.5operatedfb`y thefworm. gear .-arrange- A mentr 4l.: Armi-vl 'Ioperatesafswitch which -is part,

transmitter. These circuits are:connectedziwith:

of fthe `rtransmitter :andsiwhicha'closes the circuits contacts 24 ofthe transmitter 22 over. leadsl3- andf114fiandnare: normally opent-`untilzclosed by relay armfI 'Ib The -relay arm 'I 8 lcontrolsqthecircuit supplying current 1 to the filament :of the electronic tube29sand alsoithe circuit tothe amotor42. The circuit/to` kmotor 42 runs`fromfthe negative yterminal v, at! 5 on the transmitterthrough lead .'I0;*through relay :arm 1I8,l .throughilead 82 tomotor42 andback-throughlead 8I,l through relay contacts 3l to.. positive 1terminaliat 2 5.1`

ThecpurposeA ofithe` electronic tube 29 and the relay 28 is to delay:the/operation of the y,motoriv 42 1until-the:electronic tubesfinthetransmitter y22 have vwarmed upf sufciently andthe transmitter is:actually broadcasting on 'its' carrier frequency.`

When the relay armfIB iclosesit energizes the.`

-lament gof :tube f2 9. When ,the tube 12 9 has vbecome-heatedaplatecurrentwill beginV toilow` and close therelaycontacts 3I by*energizing the 3 relayclosing ycoil 28. The .tube 29 vis of the samegeneral. typetowhich .the transmitter tubesbelongiandf-,it' is soselectedthatfitsrwarming-'up time will. :be neither.y the i same rior;slightly: longer than that fof thetransrnitter tubes. The :relay 28 isthereforeoperated when the transmitted tubes are ready for, operation.yIt completes the circuit to the=motor 42 andthe .motor-now. starts ltorun drawing'along the pulleys 45:1withthe magnetized f wiresfbymeans of:the gearwheelsz'lIlI Vandthe pulley :43;:I The Amagnetizedwires whenApassing the :magnetic :heads: withithe coils 58 and-5l :are

engenderingthe:talking'1currents; only the cir-4 cuitof coil*5l)isclosed by the armature I9, as this armature connects'contacts-ZB oftransmitter 22 vleading tothe'modulatingarrangement of thetransmitter-fwithithe v1fcoil5(l iby` means of leads 83,283a,n84:and85.'

Thefztransmitterzis modulated )bythe-,talking currentsgenerated in coilllwwhich producethe required'signalxcallingfthe police station andstatinglthat afburglary-signal has been operated and further statinggthe.exactlocationof the premises;

The: callis;repeatedseveral times;v The length l ofirthegperiod duringwhich the/,call is` ssuedisr selected appropriately. Whensthe motor 42'starts togoperate it vturns not only the pulley 43 but alsoworm gear 46andtheworm Wheel 41 on whichacam surface or pin 48 is mounted; Whenthe-wheel 41 has been turned around for oney Further rotation ,of the`wheel.

41 causes the pin 48 to press against the s'witch actuating lever |24and to move it outwardly away from rest |26 until it has reached the endof the lever. When further advanced the switch actuating lever snapsback and strikes against the push rod |21 which is connected with thetwo contact levers |30, |30a cooperating with the contacts 49, 49a.These levers under the impact of the lever |24 striking against the pushrod |21 are pushed away from lever |24 against the action of theirspring |28 associated with them and they will be separated from contacts49 and 49a for a short while. The lever |24 comes to a rest against stop|28 and the two levers |30, |30@ return under the influence of theirspring |28 and come into contact with the contacts 49, 49a.

The opening of the holding circuits at contacts 49 and 49a causesdeenergization of the relay |2. The said relay, when deenergized fallsback and the circuits controlled by the relay arms I6, 1, |8, |9 areagain opened while relay arm |4 simultaneously closes its contactconnected with line l5.

It will be noted that the worm gear arrangement is so adjusted that thegear wheel 41 will complete one revolution by the time the recordedmessage on one of the endless wires 4|, 4|a has been broadcast thedesired number of times. The disconnection and return of the apparatustherefore occurs when a complete cycle of operations has been performed.Since the switch arm |30 is again in contact with contact 49 and therelay arm |4 is closed, completing circuits to the alarm switches 3 andI3, the entire alarm system is now again ready for another operation.

The push-button switches 3 are provided so that the tenant of theproperty can operate the alarm system in case of a robbery attempt whilethe tenant is on the premises.

The alarm apparatus, is usually combined with some local apparatus (notshown) giving a local alarm at the place itself or at a suitable placein the vicinity, and it is returned to its normal condition when thelocal alarm is stopped or the necessary counter-measures have beentaken.

In the event of a fire the heat causes one of the switches 33 to close(momentarily). This closes the circuit of relay |0| through the relaycontact arm I4 and switch 33.

The operation is similar to that which has already been described. Therelay |0| is energized and operates all the circuits which have beendescribed in connection with relay |2 with the exception that contactarm ||9 now closes the circuit of coil 5| and connects it with contacts2'! of the transmitter 22 which also leads to the modulating arrangementover leads 9| and 92. The wire 4|a now furnishes the talking currentscalling the re department and stating the location of the premises wherethe iire has broken out. The relay arm I6 closes the circuit to theswitch contact 49a which contact is opened (momentarily) when the gearwheel 41 completes one revolution and pushes contact arm |30a away fromit. This action stops the operation of the entire alarm system apparatusin the same way in which the opening of the contact 49 stops theoperation of the system.

The modieation shown is designed for conditions in which alarm has to begiven to one agency, say the police station only, Iwhich will notifyother agencies such as the re department, if necessary. If independentagencies are to be notiiied the relays have to operate two transmittersor a plurality of transmitters, practically all arranged together andforming a single trans-r mitter with a plurality of frequencies. Theoperation of a transmitter with a plurality of frequencies may becontrolled by providing as many contacts 24 as there are frequencies andby operating them separately by the contact arms I'B, I6 in the same wayin which the coils 50, 5| are operated separately.

Other modifications and changes Will be lobvious to persons skilled inthe art.

I claim:

l. An alarm system for unguarded premises having an alarm circuit withtemporarily closing alarm contacts, a self-holding alarm relay provided`with relay arms and contacts, and operated by said contacts, and aholding circuit for the said relay, and further provided with abroadcast transmitter having electronic tubes and an energizing circuit,closed `and held closed by the arms and contacts of the alarm relay,when operated, and further including a source of currents, means forproducing radio frequency oscillations and means for modulating the saidoscillations by recorded speech currents, the latter means including anendless record carrier, means for advancing the same, and electricdriving means for said advancing means, said alarm system comprising anenergizing circuit for the record carrier driving means, controlled bythe relay contacts of the alarm relay, simultaneously with the controlof the energizing circuit of the broadcast transmitter, an electronictube connected with said transmitter provided with a cathode and aplate, supplied with heating and plate current upon energization of thetransmitter, and thus becoming operative simultaneously with theelectronic transmitter tubes, a plate circuit for said tube, a controlrelay in said plate circuit, operated upon operation of the tube, saidcontrol relay including a relay contact controlling the energizingcircuit of the electric driving means for the record advancing means,means for limiting the advance of the endless record carrier, includinga pair of normally closed contacts, one of said contacts beingdisplaceable, means for displacing said displaceable contact operated bysaid driving means of the endless record carrier after a predeterminedadvance of the said endless record carrier, said contact paircontrolling the holding circuit of the alarm relay and therebycontrolling the circuit of the electric driving means for the endlessrecord carrier and the energizing circuit of the transmitter, theadvance of the endless record carrier and the operation of thebroadcasting radio transmitter being thus synchronized in order toobtain a predetermined number of messages during a minimum ofbroadcasting time.

2. An alarm system for unguarded premises having an alarm circuit withtemporarily closing alarm contacts, a self-holding alarm relay, providedwith relay arms and relay contacts and operated by said alarm contacts,and a holding circuit for the said relay, and further provided with abroadcast transmitter having electronic tubes, an energizing circuit,closed and held closed by the arms and tcontacts of said alarm relay,when operated, and including a source :of currents, means for producingradio frequency oscillations, and means for modulating the same byrecorded speech currents, the latter means including an endless recordcarrier, rotating means for advancing the same, and electric drivingmeans for said endless record carrier, driving said rotating advancingmeans, said alarm system comprising an energizing circuit for the recordcarrier driving means, controlled by the relay contacts of the alarmrelay, simultaneously `with the controlling of the energizing circuit ofthe broadcast transmitter, an electr'onic tube connected with saidtransmitter, provided with a cathode and a plate and supplied `withheating and plate current upon energization of said transmitter, thusbecoming operative simultaneously with the electro-nic tubes of thetransmitter, a plate circuit for said tube, a control relay in saidplate circuit operated upon operation of the tube, said control relayincluding control relay contacts controlling the energizing circuit forthe electric driving means for the endless record carrier, a heatingcircuit for the cathode of the `aforesaid electronic tube arranged inparallel to the control relay contacts in the energizing circuit of theelectric driving means for the endless record carrier, rotating pulleysdriven by said driving means and advancing said endless record carrier,:and a revolution counter, including a pair of normally closed contactsseparated :after a predetermined rotary movement of the said pulleys,said contacts controlling the holding circuit of the alarm relay andthereby the energizing circuits for the electric driving means of theendless record carrier and the energizing circuit of the transmitter,and de-ene-rgizing said circuits upon operation after a predeterminednumber of revolutions of the pulleys.

RALPH L. HUGHES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

